Apparatus for automatically collating sheets of paper and the like



Oct. 14, 1958 R. LEHMANN 2,856,183

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY COLLATING SHEETS v OF PAPER AND THE LIKE Filed April 25, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheeb'l INVENTOR- RU/F Lehm BY 440M 5. gum

aqt,

'Oct. 14, 1958 R LEHMANN 2,856,183

APPARATUS FOR AU'fOMATICALLY COLLATING SHEETS OF PAPER AND THE LIKE Filed April 25, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 3011c 6 1 mam, BY

W QM 5. 97mm Oct. 14, 1958 R LEHMANN 2,856,183

APPARATUS 'FOR AUTOMATICALLY COLLATING SHEETS OF PAPER AND THE LIKE i5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.6" 41 45 i158 -s9 F e 43 g l g INVENTOR. Fol? Leh BY mam) Oct. 14, 1958 R. LEHMANN 2,856,183

APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY COLLATING SHEETS OF PAPER AND THE LIKE Filed April 25, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.

INVENTOR ILQQ BY flit?! f (fl-1M,-

ATTORNEY R. LEHMANN 2,856,183 APPARATUS FOR AUTO COLLATING SHEETS OF E: LIKE MATICA PAPER AND Oct. 14, 1958 LLY TH 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 25, 1955 I VENTOR fi QQQQQ ATTORNEY United States Patent APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY SHEETS OF PAPER AND THE C OLLATIN G LIKE The invention concerns an apparatus for automatically collating sheets of paper or the like disposed in several storage stacks to form a common deposit stack.

Qollating machines for sheets of paper are known in which several stacks of paper are arranged in a circle on a rotating table so that the operating personnel who are seated round the table may remove the sheets from the various stacks and arrange them in the required sequence in boxes set up for the purpose.

W1th other known collating machines several suction mechanisms arranged above the deposit boxes suck up sheets in turn from various stacks of paper arranged at intervals round a turn-table and deposit them automatically in the deposit boxes disposed below them. The stacks are arranged upright and the outer sheet is sucked up in a radial direction in each case.

In the case of another collating machine, which also operates automatically, rollers remove in each case the lower sheet from a plurality of stacks rotating on a turn-table with the use of suction slots arranged in the rollers and convey them with the use of switch points into deposit boxes disposed underneath.

The object of the present invention is a further development of automatic collating machines and achieves with relative simple means an improved, more rapid and more reliable operation substantially by the feature that rotating units of suction or gripping rods distributed uniformly over the periphery, rotating round a perpendicular axis like a merry-go-round above a ring of storage and deposit tables each have a number of suction or gripping rods operated in steps corresponding to the number of storage tables, whilst the rotation of the units and the stepping of their suction or gripping rods are so adapted to one another that above the first storage table, i. e. the table disposed in the direction of rotation behind the deposit table there is positioned the first suction or gripping rod, while the second suction or gripping rod is positioned above the second storage table, and so on so that each gripping rod takes up a sheet from the appropriate storage table and retains it during the stepping of the following suction or gripping rods receiving the following sheets to the point of delivery of all the sheets collected during one rotation by the appropriate unit of the deposit table.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view;

Fig. 2 is a vertical axial section;

Fig. 3 is a diagram of a detail in five different positions;

Figs. 4 and 5 are a plan view and front elevation respectively of the detail shown in Fig. 3 on a different scale;

Fig. 6 is an axial section similar to Fig. 2, for another form of construction;

Figs. 7 to 11 pertain to the embodiment of Fig. 2

2 showing diagrammatic views of consecutive operating phases of the ratchet devices which control the rotational position of the suction units in timed relation to the rotation of the central column of the machine;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail top view taken on line 12--12 in Fig. 2, showing the arrangement of the ratchet devices of Figs. 7 to 11;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged diagrammatic top view of the ratchet devices associated with the respective suction units, and disposed in circular arrangement in the head of the column of the machine; and

Figs. 14 to 18 pertain to the embodiment of Fig. 6, showing the consecutive operating phases of the ratchet devices associated with the suction units in the embodiment of the machine in Fig. 6, and controlling the rotational positions of the suction unit in timed relation to the rotational movement of the central column of the machine.

A guide member 1 is secured by screws 2 onto a base frame G of the apparatus. A central operating column 3 is mounted in the guide member 1 longitudinally displaceable and rotatable by means of gear wheels 4, 5. The drive of the gear wheels 4, 5 is effected by a driving means 6 through a shaft 7, preferably intermittently, by means of a ratchet Wheel or cam drives (not shown).

Four storage stacks 11, 12, 13, 14 and a deposit stack 15 are arranged as shown in Fig. 1, concentrically to the operating column 3 and as shown in the drawing, at equally spaced angular intervals relative to one another. The four storage stacks 11-14 are accommodated on storage tables 8 which may be displaced independently of one another, on the one hand, by means of hand wheels g radially to the operating column 3 and, on the other hand, by means of hand wheels d parallel to the axial direction of the operating column 3 or vertically, respectively. In addition to the manual height adjustment of the storage table 8 by hand, an automatic adjusting mechanism by means of screw wheels is provided, so that the top of the stack, 11, 12, 13, 14 is always automatically maintained at the same level during the operation (described below) of the machine. At the same time, as is known per se, and therefore requires no explanation, the speed of the conveyance is adapted to the thickness of the paper even when the stack tables are covered with papers of various thicknesses.

On the top of the head member 16 of the operating column 3 suction rod units a are attached to turn to a limited extent by means of distributor members 17. With a total of five storage and depositing stacks 11-15, five suction units are also provided which are distributed uniformly over the periphery and, as shown in stack 13 in Fig. 1, and more clearly in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, are each provided with four suction rods [2 b b and b The suction rods or units extend substantially radially over the edge of the stack of sheets disposed forwardly in the direction of rotation U.

Use is made of the limited rotatability of the suction rod units a in the embodiment in such manner that for example, the unit a which as a result of the second stroke or rotational step about the vertical axis appears to be in its position II, is pivoted into its position shown in Fig. 3b by means of tilting levers 18, when the latter are periodically pivoted from the cam disc 20 during the raising of the operating column 3 or its centre push rod 19. p

In a corresponding manner the unit a which is disposed precisely over the third storage stack 13 (position HI), is brought into the position 3c corresponding to the third stroke. Above the fourth storage stack 14 (in the position 1V in Fig. l) and even more considerable pivoting into the unit position shown in Fig. 3d (stroke 4) is This is achieved by the feature that the chain 22 which is I guided overschainwheels 22a of the rotatably mounted suction pipes or suction rods b, presents turning. Ifthe suction rod b is now disposed in stroke I above the first stack 11 and simultaneously (corresponding to second stroke) thev suction rod b of another unit a above thesecond stack 12, the suction rod h of a third unitq above the third stack 13v and also the suction rod b of a fourth unit a simultaneously above the fourth stack 14, then any partial vacuum in the suction rods will suck up. each-a sheet 11a, 12a, 13a and 14a--if the partial vacuum is maintained in the now followingpartial turn, which extends over one fifth of the peripheryand take themalong in the peripheral direction. They cease to-be carriedalong as soon-as the partial vacuum ceases. This happens in the position V in Fig. 1- above the deposited stack 15 or the deposited stack table, which is adjustable in height, designated 25 in Fig. 2. If, when the apparatus begins to work-according to the previous description in the position stroke 4- only one sheet clings to thenozzle of the suction rod b only one sheet (from stack14) can naturally be delivered at position V after the apparatus has been further operated into this position. Thus,-directly after the engagement of the machine, no collating occurs with the first stroke of the machine, but only the sheet 11a is brought into the position 1111b, thesheet 12a into the'position 1211b and the sheet 13a into the position 1312b, whilst the sheet 14a is deposited in the position V. After the second stroke of the-machine, withwhich four new sheets 11a, 12a, 13a, 14a, are sucked upin their turn corresponding to Figs. 3a, b, c, d, the sheets13ab and 14a are deposited atV, that is to say, a sheet from stack 13 and one from stack 14 so that during thesecond stroke therefore two sheetsare collated there already. With the third stroke the sheet llab passes to position llabc and the sheet 12ab into the position 12abc, so that after the third stroke'atV the three lots 12abc, 1311b, 14a are deposited. The one lot which consists ot-v the sheets originally designated by 12a, is received inthe next stroke at 13a and received in the third stroke at 14a, that is to say, a packet-of one sheet each of the stacks 12, 13, 14.- Such. lots of three would not occur unless the stack 11 were fed. The apparatus is therefore also suitable for collating lots of three.

If, finally, the sheet received originally at- 11a by the suction rod b in the fourth'stroke has been carried further to llabcd in Fig. 3, after this fourth stroke, namely, in the fifth, the firstlot of'four, containing each one sheet from the stacks 11, 12, 13, 14, can be deposited at V according, to Fig. 3e, whilst in their turn four new sheet are'sucked up from the four stacks 11, 12, 13, 14 in the positions I, II, III and IV. The few sheets previously collected at V should be removed and can be added again after suitably sorting the stacks 12, 13", 14. With all the following strokes automatically correctly arranged lotsof four are deposited at V on the deposit stack 15.

The described new operation which can be carried out immediately by untrained labour with the new comparatively simple and inexpensive apparatus, has considerableadvantages relative to the known method.

With a suitably constructed apparatus, the collating of blocks of'five'in one operation is naturally also possible; in this case it is only necessary to construct an apparatus which. contains five storage and one deposit stack uniformly distributed" over'the periphery. The same a'p plies accordingly also to blocks with other numbers of sheets. If it is' intended to use the machine, for example, to manufacture blocks of bills with carbon copies or with receipts, for the collating of blocks of two, then the first sheets (bills) are inserted as storage stacks 11 and 13, whilst the second sheets (receipts) are stacked up at 12 and 14. The machine operates then without reversing and giving a double yield. This is a further advantage of the invention.

If it is intended to use-the new apparatus to collate blocks of eight, for example, blocks of four are collected twice and subsequently one stack of four obtained in this manner is inserted at 11- and 13 and the others at 12 and 14 again. Even the collating of blocks of 16 is possible if the following method is used:

lst operation: Sheets 1-5--913 2nd operation: Sheets 26-l0-14- 3rd operation: Sheets 3--71 1--1 5 4th operation: Sheets 48 -12--1'6' Then, in the" next operation, when the sheets 1,

2, 3, 4- are disposed at the op, they first pass to.

the deposit stack, then 5, 6, 7, 8, etc. The sheet may be correctly arranged therefore after a little reflection; Blocks of any other number of pages may be compiled with the apparatus, of course.

It is obvious that the vertical conveyance of the deposit table may be adjusted according to the sum. of the paths of conveyance of all the remaining stacks on the table and that the speed of conveyance with a stack of carbon papers should be adjusted otherwise than with thicker writing paper or even with a stiff envelope. In principle the machine, however, as is apparent from the above; admit'sof the collating of sheets of varying thickness and quality and even of'difierent material if the correct conveying is adjusted, whereas known collating machines are not usually suitable for such purposes.

In order to economize in power during the production of a partial vacuum it is also advisable always only to open the suction nozzles from the distributor when and where sheets are to be received and held. A further improvement may be achieved by producing only with one vertically downwardly directed nozzle mouth a relative 1y high partial vacuum in the appropriate suction rod from a crescent-shaped control chamber of a distributor at the moment the sheets are picked up,.whilst in the other positions in which the sucked up sheet need only be held (1141b, 11abc, 1211b, 11 abcd, 12ab c, 1311b) by a second crescent-shaped cont'rol'cha'mber of the distributor, the appropriate suction rods may'be connected to a lower partial vacuum. When switching over from the region of the high to the low part of the pressure, attentiou need be paid only to the so-called ovcr la'pping of the control slots so that'the sheets do not fall off when they are transferred. In order that during the supervision of the relatively numerous storage and deposit stacks which may operate with various thicknesses of paper or feeding speeds errors in supervision may be avoided during rapid operation it appears advisable to provide switches which switch on or oflE, as required, the feed of the stack tables after testing the surface of the stack. Mercury switches are preferable in this case which operate a'coupling arranged in the feed drive" by means of a lifting magnet. In addition the arrangement of a further switch is advisable which, in the event of an insuflicient partial vacuum, preferably switches off the whole apparatus through a relay or any other servo device and, in certain circumstances advises theflop crating personnel thereon by a warning signal. It is always essential for the number of the suction rod units of the overall number of the storage and depositing tables and the number of the suction rods per unit to correspond to the number of storage tables and for the the suction rods to be correctly adjusted to one another inside the units.

Referring to the detail Figs. 7 to 12, which illustrates the operation of the ratchet mechanisms that controls the rotational positions of the suction units in timed relation to the rotational position of the central column of the machine in the embodiment of Fig. 1, the arrangement and operations of these devices is as follows:

On the shaft 100 of the suction rod unit a a ratchet wheel 70 is firmly attached the pitch of the teeth of which corresponds to the angle between two adjacent suction rods b and b On shaft 100 the tilting lever 18 is pivotably mounted and it is tilted through the control rod 71' by means of the push rod 19 which is lifted periodically. In this movement, the ratchet wheel 70, and together with it the suction rod unit a, is turned further through one tooth in correspondence with the spacing of the suction rods by means of the pawl 72 which is attached to the tilting lever 18; at the same time the return spring 45' of shaft 100 is being tensioned.

The counterpawl 44' engages the next following tooth of the ratchet wheel 70 and holds the suction rod unit 0 against the torsional pull of the returnspring 45 in its new position until, in accordance with Fig. 8, the push rod 19 rises in the next cycle and simultaneously the suction rod unit. a is moved again an amount corre sponding to one tooth by means of the pawl 72'.

The spring 73 and the stop 74' are provided for returning the tilting lever 18 with its pawl 72' after every cycle into its original position.

The operation thus described repeats four times during one turn of the machine, in accordance with Figs. 7 through 10. During this performance the suction rods b through b will suck up every time one of each of the sheets from the stacks 11, 12, 13, 14.

When the push rod 19 rises in the fifth cycle of op eration the head part 16 has arrived, by rotational movement around the axis of the push rod 19 which is now at a standstill, in a position in which the control rod 71 is not actuated because in this position the push rod 19 brings a recess 75' into register while at the same time the boss or cam 77' is located underneath the control rod 76, the cam or boss 77 being operative only in this position of the mechanism. The control rod 76 first moves the pawl 72 out of engagement and thereafter also the pawl 44' so that the return spring 45' is in a position to return the suction rod unit a into its original position as per Fig. 11, because the ratchet wheel 70' is now no longer locked.

With the other embodiment as shown in Fig. 6 the machine frame consists of a lower base plate 31, several supports 32, a centre carrier member 33 and a guide member 34. These parts are interconnected by screws 2.

The continuously adjustably driven gear mechanism 6 operated by means of a V-belt 36 by a driving motor 35 carries on its driven shaft 37 a coupling sleeve 38. In the correspondingly constructed bore of the coupling sleeve 38 is guided the lower end of the operating column 40 constructed as a key shaft 39. The lifting movements of the operating column 40 for controlling the pivoting movement of the suction rod units a into the positions according to Figs. 3a, b, c, d are produced by the feature that a face cam disc 42 secured to the operating column head 41 is periodically raised by one or more rollers 43 arranged on the guide member 34. The number of lifting cams of the face cam disc corresponds to the number of the storage and depositing stacks 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, so that the face cam disc 42 is at each revolution lifted as many times as stacks (11 to are provided.

Referring to Figs. 13 to 18, each lifting movement of the face cam disc 42 produces by means of tilting levers 18' partial rotations of the suction rod units a, the new positions of which (shown in Figs. 3a, b, c, d, e)

are secured by spring pressed pawls 44. The tilting levers 18' are pressed with the one arms through cam roller 70" against the outer annular contact face or edge 80 of the cam disc 42. The opposite arms of levers 18 extend upwardly to support control pawls 71 cooperating with teeth 72 of segments 73 of the suction units a. The segments 73 are fixed on shafts 82 rotatably mounted in the head portion 79 of the operating column 40. Springs 45 encircling the shafts ensure the connection of the pawls 71 and of pawls 44 to the teeth of the segments. The segments '73 also act as suction air valves together with openings 78, as they have valve openings 74, 75, 76, 77 the number of which corresponds to the number of storage tables 11, 12, 13, 14.

In the starting position I according to Fig. 14 (with a suction rod unit a positioned above table 11), the pawl 71 engages the first tooth of segment 73 at which position only the first opening 74 (seen from the left) is connected to an arcuate-shaped suction air opening 78 in the annular head portion 79 of the operating column 40, sucking up one sheet from storage stack 11. When the second lifting movement of the face cam disc 42 takes place the partial rotation of said disc 42 has brought the pawl 71 above stack and table 12. Now tilting lever 18' is again swung so that pawl 71 will shift another tooth of segment 73 toward the left (Fig. 15), bringing the segment 73 into a new position II (again secured by pawl 44), in which position (II in Fig. 13) two openings 74, 75 of said segment 73 are connected to the corresponding suction air opening 78 in annular head portion 79. Now, additionally to the sheet sucked up through opening 74, another sheet is sucked up by the air entering through opening 75 in position II (and simultaneously another sheet in position I via opening 74).

The next lifting movement of the annular edge of the face cam disc 42 will again swing the tilting levers 18' so that the segments 73 advance for another step. The first mentioned segment 73 new advances into position III in Figs. 13 and 16 connecting three openings 74, 75, 76 to the suction air opening 78 of the annular head portion 79 thereby sucking up a third sheet by the suction unit a which now stands above stack and table 13.

At the next or fourth lifting movement of annular edge 80 of the face cam disc 42, tilting lever 18' brings pawl 71 of the said segment 73 to the position shown in Fig. 17 secured by pawl 44, and corresponding to the rotation of position IV of cam 42. As now four openings 74, 75, 76, 77 of segment 73 are in connection with the opening 78 with the respective sheets held via openings 74, 75, 76 a fourth sheet is picked up from stack 14.

After the next lifting movement and partial rotation of face cam disc 42 the suction unit a has to deposit the four sheets supported by it simultaneously upon deposit stack 15. In order to accomplish this, a lobe 81 is provided for, which is higher, than the lifting movement x produced by the face cam disc 42. For this reason, the lobe 81 produces'a larger tilting move ment of tilting lever 18 than the lifting movement x of the disc 42. By this larger movement (caused by lobe 81 immediately following the fourth lifting movement of cam disc 42) the pawl 71 is disengaged from the teeth of segment 73.

Simultaneously the other pawl 44 is disengaged from the teeth of the same segment 73 (in a manner hereinafter described) by the same lobe 81 so that the return spring 45 arranged on shaft 82 of the unit a can return the segment 73 to the starting position to deliver the sheets (Fig. 3e). To effect the disengaging of pawl 44 there is provided a third arm 91 extending from tilting lever 18' and carrying a stud 84 which at normal feeding strokes of member 18' and pawl 71 moves idly within an elongated slot 83 in a control rod having an upper bent ever end 92 engaging the upper screws nd of a control sleeve 85. Thus, the control sleeve, 85 normally engaging a stop 85 is moved downward, against the action of a spring 93 as soon as the lobe, 81 engages the tilting lever 18. Another arm 86 of control rod 0 engages a horizontal arm 44' of the pawl 44- to move it to its inoperative position so that spring 45 will return the segment '73 to its starting position (see Fig. 14).

The control sleeve 85 has still another important function. According to Fig. 13, it is guided lengthwise within the head portion 79 and has a control opening 86in itself. In the positions I, II, III, IV, suction coming from air lines 87 to the interiors of the sleeves is transferred'through openings 78 to the suction unit 11,

whereas it is interrupted at position V as the control opening 86 is now covered by the sleeve 35. The arcuate opening 78 is, in the position V, separated from the corresponding opening 78 in head portion 79, so that the suction from air line 87 has no longer c0nncction to the suction rod of the suction unit a which at that moment stands in position V. These suction rods drop, therefore, the sheets onto the deposit stack. A spring 46, which is fitted between the coupling sleeve 38 and the bell-shaped lifting disc 66 of the operating column 40, is used to relieve the rotating members of the weight. The lifting disc 66 operates the feed of the deposit stack or the deposit table 25, respectively, by means of a cam 47 through a bell-crank lever 49 pivotable in a bearing block 48, and a ratchet drive 54]. Thehand wheel 51 is provided for the hand wheel drive.

To advance the storage stacks 11, 12, 13, 14 bevel gears 52, 53 are provided which drive the feeding spindle 67 of the storage table 8 through the shaft 54 and pairs of screw wheels 55 as often and as long as the appropriate lifting magnet 60 engages the appropriate feed coupling 61 through members 58 detecting the height of the stacks. The handle wheel at is provided for the hand drive. it has proved to be particularly preferable to construct the machine frame G in such manner that the base construction thereof receives the entire feeding mechanism, Whilst a special guide member 34- is mounted for the upper mounting of the operating column and as a carrier for the lifting rollers 43.

What I claim is:

l. Collating apparatus comprising, in combination, a first support means and a second support means, one of said support means being turnable relative to the other of said support means in successive strokes between a plurality of angularlydisplaced positions; a plurality of stacking means for sheets mounted on said first support means for turning movement therewith, said stacking means being equally spaced from each other and from the axis of rotation of said one support means, one of said stacking means being a deposit means for collated sheets, and the other of said stacking means being a plurality of sheet supply means adapted to supply sheets tobe collated; a plurality of suction units mounted on saidsecond support means, each of said suction units being located opposite one of said stacking means in each of said angularly displaced positions of said one support means, each of said suction units having a set of'suction' means respectively associated with one of said sheet supply means, each of said suction units being movable between a plurality of pick-up positions; means for moving said suction units between said pick-up positions controlled by said one support means in such manner that each of said suction means is located opposite the associated sheet supply means in each of said pick-up positions while said one support means is in one of said angularly displaced positions; and means for operating said suction means in said pick-up positions of said suction units and for disconnecting all suction means of each unit when the respective unit is located over said deposit nieanswhereby said suction units consecutively take from the corresponding sheet supply means sheets stacked thereon and deliver-the sheets taken vfrom all sheet supply means to said deposit means.

2. Collating apparatus comprising, in combination, a support means; a carrier means mounted on said support means and being turnable relative to said support means in successive strokes between a plurality of angularly displaced positions; a plurality of stacking means for sheets mounted on said carrier means for turning movement therewith, said stacking means being equally spaced from each other and from the axis of rotation of said as" .r means, one of said stacking means being a deposit means for collated sheets, and the other of said stacking means being a plurality of sheet supply means adapted to supply sheets to be collated; a plurality of suction units mounted on said support means, each of saidsuction of suction means respectively associated with one of said sheet supply means, each of said suction units being "lovable between a plurality of pick-up positions; means for moving said suction units between said pick-up positions controlled by said carrier means in such manner that each of said suction means is located opposite the associ: ated sheet supply means in each of said pick-up positions while said carrier means is in one of said angularly displacedpositions; and means for operating said suctionmcans in said pick-up positions of said suction units and for disconnecting all suction means of each unit when the respective unit is located over said deposit means,

whereby said suction units consecutively take from the:

corresponding sheet supply means sheets stacked'thereon and deliver the sheets taken from all sheet supply means to said deposit means.

3. collating apparatus comprising, in combination, a support means; a carrier means mounted on said support means and being turnable relative to said support means in successive strokes between a plurality of angularly displaced positions; a plurality of stacking means for sheets mounted on said carrier means for turning movement therewith, said stacking means being equally spaced from each other and from the axis of rotation of said carrier means, one of said stacking means being a deposit means for collated sheets, and the other of said stacking means being a plurality of sheet supply means adapted to supply sheets to be collated; a plurality of suction units mounted on said support means, each of said suction units being located opposite one of said stacking means in each of said angul-arly displaced positions of said carrier means, each of said suction units having a set of suction means respectively associated with one of said sheet supply means, each of said suction means including an elongated tubular member formed with a row of longitudinally spaced openings and extending radially of the axis of rotation of the carrier means, each of said suction units being movable between a plurality of pick-up positions; means for moving said suction units between said pick-up positions controlled by said carrier means in such manner that each of said suction means is located opposite the associated sheet supply means in each of said pick-up positions while said carrier means is in one of said angularly displaced positions; and means for operating said suction means in said pick-up positions of said suction units and for disconnecting all suction means of each unit when the respective unit is located over said deposit means, whereby said suction units consecutively take from the corresponding sheet supply means sheets stacked thereon and deliver the sheets taken from all sheet supply means to said deposit means.

4. Collating apparatus comprising, in combination, a support means; a carrier means mounted on said support means and being turnable relative to said support means in successive strokes between a plurality of angularly displaced positions; a plurality of stacking means for sheets; mounted on said carrier means for turning movement therewith, said stacking means being equally spaced from each other and from the axis of rotation of said carrier means, one of said stacking means being a deposit means for collated sheets, and the other of said stacking means being a plurality of sheet supply means adapted to supply sheets to be collated; a plurality of suction units mounted on said support means, each of said suction units being located opposite one of said stacking means in each of said angularly displaced positions of said carrier means, each of said suction units having a set of suction means respectively associated with one of said sheet supply means, each of said suction means including an elon ated tubular member formed with a row of longitudinally spaced openings and extending radially of the axis of rotation of the carrier means, each of said suction units being movable between a plurality of pick-up positions; means for moving said suction units between said pick-up positions controlled by said carrier means in such manner that each of said tubular members is located opposite the associated sheet supply means, and substantially parallel with an edge of the sheets to be collated, in each of said pick-up positions while said carrier means is in one of said angularly displaced positions; and means for operating said suction means in said pick-up positions of said suction units and for disconnecting all suction means of each unit when the respective unit is located over said deposit means, Whereby said suction units consecutively take from the corresponding sheet supply means sheets stacked thereon and deliver the sheets taken from all sheet supply means to said deposit means.

, 5. Collating apparatus comprising, in combination, a support means; a carrier means mounted on said support means and being turnable relative to said support means in successive strokes between a plurality of angularly displaced positions; a plurality of stacking means for sheets mounted on said carrier means for turning movement therewith, said stacking means being equally spaced from each other and from the axis of rotation of said carrier means, one of said stacking means being a deposit means for collated sheets, and the other of said stacking means being a plurality of sheet supply means adapted to supply sheets to be collated; a plurality of suction units mounted on said support means, each of said suction units being located opposite one of said stacking means in each of said angularly displaced positions of said carrier means, each of said suction units having a set of suction means respectively associated with one of said sheet supply means, each of said suction means including an elongated tubular member formed with a row of longitudinally spaced openings and extending radially of the axis of rotation of the carrier means, each of said suction units being movable between a plurality of pick-up positions; means for moving said suction units between said pick-up positions controlled by said carrier means in such manner that each of said tubular members is located opposite the forwardmost portion of the associated sheet supply means, and substantially parallel with an edge of the sheets to be collated, in each of said pick-up positions while said carrier means is in one of said angularly displaced positions; and means for operating said suction means in said pick-up positions of said suction units and for disconnecting all suction means of each unit when the respective unit is located over said deposit means, whereby said suction units consecutively take from the corresponding sheet supply means sheets stacked thereon and deliver the sheets taken from all sheet supply means to said deposit means.

6. Collating apparatus comprising, in combination, a support means; a carrier means mounted on said support means and being turnable relative to said support means in successive strokes between a plurality of angularly displaced positions; a plurality of stacking means for sheets mounted on said carrier means for turning movement therewith, said stacking means being equally spaced from with other and from the axis of rotation of said carrier means, one of said stacking means being a deposit means for collated sheets, and the other of said stacking means being a plurality of sheet supply means adapted to supply sheets to be collated; a plurality of suction units mounted on said support means, each of said suction units being located opposite one of said stacking means in each of said angularly displaced positions of said carrier means, each of said suction units having a set of suction means respectively associated with one of said sheet supply means, each of said suction units being movable between a plurality of pick-up positions; chain means connected to said suction units and said carrier means for moving said suction units between said pick-up positions and controlled by said carrier means in such manner that each of said suction means is located opposite the associated sheet supply means in each of said pick-up positions while said carrier means is in one of said angularly displaced postions; and means for operating said suction means in said pick-up positions of said suction units and for disconnecting all suction means of each unit when the respective unit is located over said deposit means, whereby said suction units consecutively take from the corresponding sheet supply means sheets stacked thereon and deliver the sheets taken from all sheet supply means to said deposit means.

7. Collating apparatus comprising, in combination, a support means; a carrier means mounted on said support means and being turnable relative to said support means in successive strokes between a plurality of angularly displaced positions; a plurality of stacking means for sheets mounted on said carrier means for turning movement therewith, said stacking means being equally spaced from each other and from the axis of rotation of said carrier means, one of said stacking means being a deposit means for collated sheets, and the other of said stacking means being a plurality of sheet supply means adapted to supply sheets to be collated; a plurality of suction units mounted on said support means, each of said suction units being located opposite one of said stacking means in each of said angularly displaced positions of said carrier means, each of said suction units having a set of suction means respectively associated with one of said sheet supply means, each of said suction means including an elongated tubular member formed with a row of longitudinally spaced openings and extending radially of the axis of rotation of the carrier means, each of said suction units being movable between a plurality of pick-up positions; chain means connected to said suction units and said carrier means for moving said suction units between said pickup positions and controlled by said carrier means in such manner that each of said tubular members is located opposite the forwardmost portion of the associated sheet supply means, and substantially parallel with an edge of the sheets to be collated, in each of said pick-up positions while said carrier means is in one of said angularly displaced positions; and means for operating said suction means in said pick-up positions of said suction units and for disconnecting all suction means of each unit when the respective unit is located over said deposit means, whereby said suction units consecutively take from the corresponding Sheet supply means sheets stacked thereon and deliver the sheets taken from all sheet supply means to said deposit means.

8. Collating apparatus comprising, in combination, a support means; a carrier means mounted on said support means and being turnable relative to said support means in successive strokes between a plurality of angularly displaced positions; a plurality of stacking means for sheets mounted on said carrier means for turning movement therewith, said stacking means being equally spaced from each other and from the axis of rotation of said carrier means, one of said stacking means being a deposit means for collated sheets, and the other of said stacking means being a plurality of sheet supply means adapted to supply sheets to be collated; a plurality of suction units mounted on said support means, each of said suction units being located opposite one of said stacking means in each of said 'angularly displaced positions of said car- 'rier means, each of said suction units having a set of suction means respectively associated with one of said sheet supply means; adjustment means for moving each of said sheet supply means independently of the others toward the associated suction means in any one of said angularly displaced positions; each of said suction units being movable between a plurality of pick-up positions; means for moving said suction units between said pick-up positions controlled by said carrier means in such manner that each of said suction means is located opposite the associated sheet supply means in each of said pick-up positions while said carrier means is in one of said angularly displaced positions; and means for operating said suction means in said pick-up positions of said suction units and for disconnecting all suction means of each unit when the respective unit is located over said deposit means, whereby said suction units consecutively take from the corresponding sheet supply means sheets stacked thereon and deliver the sheets taken from all sheet supply means to said deposit means.

9. Collating apparatus comprising, in combination, a support means; a carrier means mounted on said support means and being turnable relative to said support means in successive strokes between a plurality of angularly displaced positions; aplurality of stacking means for sheets mounted on said carrier means for turning movement therewith, said stacking means being equally spaced from each other and from the axis of rotation of said carrier means, one of said stacking means being a deposit means for collated sheets, and the other of said stacking means being a plurality of sheet supply means adapted to supply sheets to be collated; a plurality of suction units mounted on said support means, each of said suction units being located opposite one of said stacking means in each of said angularly displaced positions of said carrier means, each of said suction units having a set of suction means respectively associated with one of said sheet supply means, each of said suction means including an elongated tubular member formed with a row of longitudinally spaced openings and extending radially of the axis of rotation of the carrier means; adjustment means for moving each of said sheet supply means independently of the others toward the associated suction means in any one of said angularly displaced positions; each of said suction units being movable between a plurality of pickup positions; chain means connected to said suction units and said carrier means for moving said suction units between said pick-up positions and controlled by said carrier means in such manner that each of said tubular members is located opposite the forwardmost portion of the associated sheet supply means, and substantially parallel with an edge of the sheets to be collated, in each of said pick up positions while said carrier means is in one of said angularly displaced positions; and means for operating said suction means in said pick-up positions of said suc- 'tion units and for disconnecting all suction means of each unit when the respective unit is located over said deposit =1neans, whereby said suction units consecutively take from the corresponding sheet supply means sheets stacked thereon and deliver the sheets taken from all sheet supply means to said deposit means.

10. Collating apparatus comprising, in combination, a support means; a carrier means mounted on said support means and being turnable relative to said support means in successive strokes between a plurality of angularly displaced positions; a plurality of stacking means for sheets mounted on said carrier means for turning movement therewith, said stacking means being equally spaced from each other and from the axis of rotation of said carrier means, one of said stacking means being a deposit means for collated sheets, and the other of said stacking means being a plurality of sheet supply means 12 adapted to supply sheets to be collated; a plurality of suction units mounted on said support means, each of said suction units being located opposite one of said stacking means in each of said angularly displaced positions of said carrier means, each of said suction units having a set of suction means respectively associated with one of said sheet supply means, each of said suction units being movable between a plurality of pick-up positions; means for moving said suction units between said pickup positions controlled by said carrier means in such manner that each of said suction means is located opposite the associated sheet supply means in each'of said pickup positions while said carrier means is in one of said angularly displaced positions; and control slide valve means connected with said suction units and said carrier means and controlled by turning of said carrier means for selectively operating said suction means in said pick-up positions of said suction units and for disconnecting all suction means of each unit when the respective unit is located over said deposit means, whereby said suction units consecutively take from the corresponding sheet supply means sheets stacked thereon and deliver the sheets taken from all sheet supply means to said deposit means.

11. Collating apparatus comprising, in combination, a support means; a carrier means mounted on said support means and being turnable relative to said support means in successive strokes between a plurality of angularly displaced positions; a plurality of stacking means for sheets mounted on said carrier means for turning movement therewith, said stacking means being equally spaced from each other and from the axis of rotation of said carrier means, one of said stacking means being a deposit means for collated sheets, and the other of said stacking means being a plurality of sheet supply means adapted to supply sheets to be collated; a plurality of suction units mounted on said support means, each of said suction units being located opposite one of said stacking means in each of said angularly displaced positions of said carrier means, each of said suction units having a set of suction means respectively associated with one of said sheet supply means, each of said suction means including an elongated tubular member formed with a row of longitudinally spaced openings and extending radially of the axisof rotation of the carrier means; adjustment means for moving each of said sheet supply means independently of the others toward the associated suction means in any one of said angularly displaced positions; each of said suction units being movable bebzv'een a plurality of pick-up positions; chain means connected to said suction units and said carrier means for moving said suction units between said pick-up positions and controlled by said carrier means in such manner that each of said tubular members is located opposite the forwardmost portion of the associated sheet supply means, and substantially parallel with an edge of the sheets to be collated, in each of said pick-up posi tions while said carrier means is in one of said angularly displaced positions; and control slide valve means connected with said suction units and said carrier means and controlled by turning of said carrier means for selectively operating said suction means in said pick-up positions of said suction units and for disconnecting all suction means of each unit when the respective unit is located over said deposit means, whereby said suction units consecutively take from the corresponding sheet supply means sheets stacked thereon and deliver the sheets taken from all sheet supply means to said deposit means.

12. Collating apparatus comprising, in combination, a support means; a carrier means mounted on said support means and being turnable relative to said support means in successive strokes between a plurality of angularly displaced positions; a plurality of stacking means for sheets mounted on said carrier means for turning movement therewith, said stacking means being equally spaced from each other and from the axis of rotation of said carrier means, one of said stacking means being a deposit means for collated sheets, and the other of said stacking means being a plurality of sheet supply means adapted to supply sheets to be collated; a plurality of suction units mounted on said support means, each of said suction units being located opposite one of said stacking means in each of said angularly displaced positions of said carrier means, each of said suction units having a set of suction means respectively associated with one of said sheet supply means, each of said suction units being movable between a plurality of pick-up positions; means for moving said suction units between said pick up positions controlled by said carrier means in such manner that each of said suction means is located opposite the associated sheet supply means in each of said pick-up positions while said carrier means is in one of said angularly displaced positions; guide means mounted on said support means; a column mounted in said guide means and being rotatable relative thereto and vertically movable therein; eccentric means controlling vertical movement of said column during turning of said carrier means; lever means interconnecting said column and said suction means in such a manner that vertical movement of said column causes pivoting of said suction means successively for positioning said suction means in a vertical position opposite said stacking means in said angularly displaced positions of said carrier means; and means for operating said suction means in said pick-up positions of said suction units and for disconnecting all suction means of each unit when the respective unit is located over said deposit means, whereby said suction units consecutively take from the corresponding sheet supply means sheets stacked thereon and deliver the sheets taken from all sheet supply means to said deposit means.

13. Collating apparatus comprising, in combination, a support means; a carrier means mounted on said support means and being turnable relative to said support means in successive strokes between a plurality of angularly displaced positions; a plurality of stacking means for sheets mounted on said carrier means for turning movement therewith, said stacking means being equally spaced from each other and from the axis of rotation of said carrier means, one of said stacking means being a deposit means for collated sheets, and the other of said stacking means being a plurality of sheet supply means adapted to supply sheetsto be collated; a plurality of suction units mounted on said support means, each of said suction units being located opposite one of said stacking means in each of said angularly displaced positions of said carrier means, each of said suction units having a set of suction means respectively associated with one of said sheet supply means, each of said suction means including an elongated tubular member formed with a row of longitudinally spaced openings and extending radially of the axis of rotation of the carrier means; adjustment means for moving each of said sheet supply means independently of the others toward the associated suction means in any one of said angularly displaced positions; each of said suction units being movable between a plurality of pick-up positions; chain means connected to said suction units and said carrier means for moving said suction units between said pick-up positions and controlled by said carrier means in such manner that each of said tubular members is located opposite the forwardmost portion of the associated sheet supply means, and substantially parallel with an edge of the sheets to be collated, in each of said pick-up positions while said carrier means is in one of said angularly displaced positions; guide means mounted on said support means; a column mounted in said guide means and being rotatable relative thereto and vertically movable therein; eccentric means controlling vertical movement of said column during turning of said carrier means; lever means interconnecting said column and said suction means in such a manner that vertical movement of said column causes pivoting of said suction means successively for positioning said suction means in a vertical position opposite said stacking means in said angularly displaced positions of said carrier means; and control slide valve means connected with said suction units and said carrier means and controlled by turning of said carrier means for selectively operating said suction means in said pick-up positions of said suction units and for disconnecting all suction means of each unit when the respective unit is located over said deposit means, whereby said suction units consecutively take from the corresponding sheet supply means sheets stacked thereon and deliver the sheets taken from all sheet supply means to said deposit means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,440,856 Westcott Jan. 2, 1923 2,288,755 Taggart July 7, 1942 2,589,428 Pearce Mar. 18, 1952 2,689,727 Rineer Sept. 21, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 467,844 Italy Dec. 22, 1951 672,938 Great Britain May 28, 1952 139,243 Sweden Feb. 24, 1953 

